A Time To Rest
As I began to pen this newsletter, I looked at the list of Solomon's "a time to..." in Ecclesiastes 3, and didn't find "a time to rest" on the list. Does this invalidate the sabbatical break I am about to take? Of course not! Though Ecclesiastes did not specifically mention a time to rest, the fact that he started the chapter by saying "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" is enough justification that this includes rest. The list in Ecclesiastes is not meant to be comprehensive. It simply shows examples of the things The Teacher was referring to.
God's example of Sabbath rest in Genesis and the rest of the Bible is even a stronger justification. Sometimes I think if Paul was alive today, I doubt he would take or encourage any of his disciples to take a sabbatical break. He strikes me as a workaholic, completely consumed and driven by the urge to preach the gospel. And he did a great job of it, much more than many of his contemporaries.
But to be fair to us, Paul didn't face the challenges and constraints we have in the 21st century. The intensity and enormity of the emotional and psychological fatigue we face as Pastors today are just a few of the challenges Paul won't have faced. I know as you read that last sentence, many of you will strongly object. You may conclude that we are just weaker, lazier and not as zealous as first century christians. I am not sure I am going to win the argument, but that's far from my intention. My point is that rest is good for us, and biblical!
So, after about 13 years of continuous ministry as a Pastor, seven of which was bi-vocational, I am going on a three months sabbatical break. I have been in church leadership for over 30 years, and pastored a local church for much of that time. This is the very first time I am taking a sabbatical break. Back in Nigeria where I pastored for about 10 years and worked full-time whilst pastoring, I did not have any concept of leave from pastoral duties let alone a sabbatical break. My other job was a seven day a week job. I set out at 5am and got home at 11pm most days. I fitted the church in between closing from work at 6pm and getting home at 11pm. Church was Tuesdays and Fridays for mid-week services and Sunday morning worship. It got to a point that I was completely overwhelmed and dissatisfied with work, church and everything. I didn't know what was happening to me. It was many years later, and after I relocated to the UK that I realised that I was suffering from burn-out. Pastors need to learn to rest. Rest is good and biblical!
I am grateful for the support of the church to allow me to take this break. I am trusting that it will help renew my strength both physically and spiritually. I want to come back refreshed, rested, renewed and reenergised for what's to come. I believe there are a lot of benefits for me and the church that I take an extended time of rest. Sometimes, when a Pastor as been at a local church for some time, there could be over dependence. The gaps created by the sabbatical will also mean others will step up to bridge them. It is also good to know that Pastors are human, and Jesus is the one we should all look to to build and grow His church.
To my fellow Pastors, particularly those who have been in long term ministry and are tired, but just keep going, take a break! It's not true that the church can't do without you. If you drop dead tomorrow, the church will continue. Take time off, spend time with your family, take a vacation, do a hobby you like. Sometimes the best thing that can happen to the church is for them to experience life without you. Someone else can do an equally good or even better job than you have. You are not indispensable.
9Marks have a few helpful things to say about pastoral burnout. They define it as "the moment or season when a pastor loses the motivation, hope, energy, joy, and focus required to fulfill his work, and these losses center upon the work itself." For more on this, read John Henderson's article on Discerning the signs of Pastoral Burnout here.
John concludes his article by rightly pointing us to "the grace of God", "the Gospel of Jesus" and "The power of the Holy Spirit". I believe the answer to Pastoral Burnout is to "turn to the Lord" as Paul urged in 2 Corinthians 3:16. As we do, we will, with "unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory," and be "transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
I have spoken to a few friends who have taken a sabbatical break, and all without fail have said to me that it changed their lives. They came back refreshed and renewed. Their churches did not collapse, but grew in their absence. My prayer is that I will have a similar experience. I have no doubt that I will miss the church greatly, as I hope I will be missed. At times like this, together, we must turn our eyes to our Lord Jesus to strengthen and refresh us all. This is the time for everyone to rise up to support the leaders by making yourself available to serve.
On a broader sense, we all need to rest this summer. I'll encourage everyone to catch up with friends and family over the summer break. I'll also encourage churches to slow activities down and create more time for deep fellowship over food and relaxation. Let's take advantage of the "little" profit from bodily exercise (1 Tim. 4:8, KJV). Rest is good for everyone. It's about time to rest!